A tug pushes a barge past the railroad bridge over Berwick Bay on Friday. Port of Morgan City officials are debating whether to buy or hire a barge that could keep the Bar Channel at a reliable depth to accommodate more water traffic. (The Daily Review/Bill Decker)

A few million dollars of investment in annual dredging costs could have a return of over $200 million of economic impact to the region, and Port of Morgan City leaders are making that pitch to anyo